Condenser



J. F. GRACE Nov. 4, 1930.

CONDENSER 2 sheets sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16 1930 J. F. GRACE 1,780,477

CONDENSER Filed Jan. 16,,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, 193%.

PN E- INVEK TOR JOHN-F1 G A TTRNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTHINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF VIB- emm connnnsnn Application filed January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,198.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and an object of the invention is to provide a condenser structure embodying fluid tight leakage preventing eonneetions between the tubes and the tube heads;

novel means ;for accompanying expansion and contraction of the tubes of the condenser under the heat variances caused by fluctuating loads on the condenser, and weight distributing features whereby the weight of the condenser, tubes, water therein, etc. is distributed over a relatively wide area and in such manner as to relieve the turbine exhaust neck 0 much suspended weight. L

More specifically the present invention comprehends the provision of a condenser 1 structure wherein the hot wellis supported directly from the foundation of the power plant and connected to the condenser shell by expansion joints to maintain fluid tight joints between'th'e shell and hotwell under all conditions and to relieve the shell, its supports provided in the condenser of the present application by providing support plates, for

the tubes of the condenser, which are suported directly from the hot well and are ree from connection with the condenser shell or its supports.

The present invention also comprises, in combination with the above enumerated features, means, preferably in the form of movable support plates, to accommodate expan-- sion and contraction of the tubes under temperature variances, without affecting their connection with the tube heads; thereby per- -mitting the expanding of both ends of the tubesjinto the tube heads and the consequent E advantages offluid tight joints and inexpensivene ss of construction of such joints in comparison with the present approved type of packed joints between the tubes and the tube heads. I

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists in various feaconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the condenser.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the condenser taken on the line 3-3 of F igure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary view illustrating the manner of connecting the tubes to the tube heads andtheir longitudinal bowing. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved condenser comprises a shell 1 of any approved construction, having an exhaust steam inlet 2 through which the steam to be condensed enters the condenser. Water for cooling or condensing the steam passes through the longitudinally extending tubes 3 of the condenser from the water box 4 to the water box 5. The condenser may be of either single or multiple pass construction without departing from the spirit of this invention. In Figure 2 a two pass condenser is illustrated and as is readily understood, in such condensers the circulating water passes from the water box 4 through a part of the tubes into the Water box 5 and returns through other of the tubes to the water box 4, passing therefrom through the outlet 6.

In the present construction, the condenser --sl1ell 1 is supported by supports 7, and suprectly upon the foundationor floor 11. The I intermediate the tube heads as indicated in Figure 4 or in any of the approved manners as disclosed in .my companion application Ser. No. 412,481, filed December 7th, 1929.

or 16 comprises a pair of plates 17 and 1 8 The bowing of the tubes intermediate their ends is provided to permit or accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes under temperature variances within the condenser. Owm to the size of condensers of this type, the tu es are relatively long and it is necessary to provide means for supporting the tubes intermediate of the tube heads 14 and in the present invention support plate structures 15 and 16 are illustrated which not onl support the tubes intermediate their on s but 1permit movement of the bowed portion of t e tubes under expansion and contraction action.

o In Figure 3 of the drawings the construction of the support plate structures is' clearly shown and each support plate structure 15 which have arms 19 formed as a continuation of their lower portions. The arms 19 extend through the respectlve expans1on joints 12 and into the hot well 10 where their lower ends are pivoted by means of pivotal pins 20 to suitable brackets 21 either formed upon or attached to the bottom of the hot well 10 so that the support plates will be supported from the hot well and its support in ependently of the shell 1 and its su ports thereby further distributing the weiglil, not only of the condenser plates themselves but of the intermediate portion of the tubes and the water therein and relieving the turbine exhaust neck (not shown) of weight and further reducing upthrust action when the condenser is operating under hot or atmospheric' exhaust conditions. The support plates 17 and 18 bein pivotally mounted, and at a point farthest rom the inlet of steam into the shell 1 are permitted to move upon their pivotal axis to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes 3 and by the location of their pivots their maximum scope of movement is at the portion of the condenser shell subjected to the highest temperatures. The pivoting plates 17 and 18 of each support plate structure 15 and 16 are urged into their inward or normal positions by means of a spring 22 and suitable rods 23 and 24.

In the drawings of the present applicaof a patent construction, with the arms 19 extending into the hot well, and it is thereby understood that any of the various forms of mounting of the support plates as shown in my companion application hereinabove referred to may be employed without dep'arting from the spirit of this invention, insofar as the said plates are supported independently of the condenser shell 1 and in such manner that their Weight and the weight of the intermediate portions of the tubes will be distributed to the point of support of the plates and not to the shell 1.

The hot well 10 may be anchored to the floor or foundation 11 by any suitable type of anchoring means such as shown at 30, or

it may be connected in any other manner to 'of the condenser.

Itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of arts shown, but that thlS ma be modified wldely within the invention as efined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a condenser, a shell, spring supports therefor, a hot well rigidly supported indeendently of said shell, and an expansion joint between said hot well andshell.

2. In a condenser, a shell, spring supports therefor, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint between said hot well and shell, tubes in said shell, and support plates for said tubes supported from said hot well.

3. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, spring supports, for said shell, and support plates for said tubes supported independently of said shell.

4. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, spring supports for said shell, and support plates for said tubes supported independently of said shell, said tubes being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof.

5.'In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, supports for the shell, and support plates for said tubes pivotally supported independently of said shell. 1

6. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, supports for the shell, support plates for said tubes pivotally supported independently of said shell, and means for urging said support tlon, the support plates 17 and 18 are shown plates into normal position.

7. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein,

supports for the shell, support plates for said tubes supported independently of said shell and movable independently of the shell to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes.

8. In a condenser, a shell, supports for the shell, tubes in the shell being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof, support plates for said tubes pivotally supportedindependently of said shell and movable independently of the shell to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes.

9. In a condenser, a shell, supports for said shell, tubes in said shell being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof, support plates for said tubes pivotally supported independently of the shell and movable in the direction of the bowing of the tubes upon expansion or contraction of' the tubes, and means for urging said support plates into normal position.

10. In a condenser, a shell, supports for I said shell, tubes in the shell being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof, support plates for said tubes pivotally supported independently of the shell and movable in the direction of the bowing of-the tubes upon expansion or contraction of the tubes, said support plates being pivoted at a point whereby their maximum scope of movement will be at the part of the condenser subjected to highest temperature.

11. In a condenser, a shell, supports for said shell, tubes in the shell being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof, support plates for said tubes ivotally supported independently of the shell and movable in the direction of the bowing of the tubes apon'expmtvn"ar contraction of the tubes, said support plates being pivoted at a point whereby their maximum scope of movement will be at the part of the condenser subjected to highest temperature and means for urging said support plates into normal position.

' 12. In a condenser, a shell, spring supports therefor, tubes in the shell, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint between said hot well and shell,

support plates for said tubes, said support plates being pivotally connected to said hot well.-

13. In a condenser, a shell, spring supports therefor, tubes in the shell, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint between said hot well and shell, and support plates for said tubes, said support plates being pivotally supported from said hot well whereby their maximum scope of movement will be at the part of the condenser subjected to highest temperatures.

14. In a condenser, a shell, spring supports therefor, tubes in the shell, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint between said hot well and shell, support plates for said tubes, said tubes being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof, said support plates being movably supported by said hot well for movement relative to the hot well and shell upon expansion and contraction of the tubes.

15. In a condenser, a shell, supports therefor, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell and its supports, tubes in said condenser, one or more support plates for said tubes mounted for movement relative to the shell on a fixed axis.

16. In a condenser, a shell, supports therefor, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell and its supports, tubes in said condenser, one or more support plates for said tubes supported independently of the for movement relative to the shell on a fixed axls.

18. In a condenser a shell, supports therefor, a hot well rigidly supported independently of said shell and its supports, tubes in said condenser, one or more support-plates for said tubes supported from the hot well for movement relative to the shell on a fixed axis, and means for urging said support plates into normal position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' JOHN F. GRACE. 

